Indian riot police deployed after 20 die in protests over Kashmir leader death

Indian authorities are struggling to contain protests by tens of thousands of Kashmiris angry after 20 people were killed in weekend demonstrations called after troops killed a top anti-India rebel leader.

Paramilitary troops and police in riot gear are patrolling villages and towns in the Himalayan region amid a stringent curfew that has been in force for three days.

The mostly Muslim region erupted in protest after Indian troops killed Burhan Wani, the leader of Kashmir’s largest rebel group, Hizbul Mujahideen, which has been fighting since the 1990s against Indian rule in the disputed region.

Police said on Monday that at least 19 civilians and one policeman were killed in weekend clashes between rock-throwing demonstrators and law enforcement officers.